EUROPE: Belgian presidency to focus on research

The Belgian presidency of the European Union has promised to make research a priority of its six-month period of office, which will run until December.

It is calling for a number of changes to make Europe's research networks simpler, more efficient and more accessible for researchers and investors, promoting scientific breakthroughs.

At a July meeting of the EU's competitiveness council, ministers stressed how simplifying research funding procedures would encourage more industry partners, particularly small and medium-sized partners, to participate in projects of interest.

Readability, coherence and stability of rules should be simplified, the council agreed, according to a European Commission briefing, adding that "in order for the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy to be realised, shorter paths need to be forged between research and the market through SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises]".

The ministers also focused on the need to identify and remove obstacles such as flaws in patent law, researcher shortages across the region and unnecessary competition between member states in relation to scientific projects, according to the briefing.

In terms of funding mechanisms, the ministers discussed the long-term possibility of reducing the number of existing European funding instruments for research.

The council also looked at some short-term solutions that could be implemented soon without having to change the existing funding rules, such as raising the tolerable risk of error to 3.5%, which would open doors for projects with less certainty but higher potential for progress.

The council expressed some concerns that current funding and approval models often used too-narrow definitions of potential results, which could lead to a tendency to fund projects with less risk - overlooking projects with more uncertainty but the potential to make important scientific discoveries. The ministers said projects need to be assessed first and foremost in terms of their potential scientific merit and benefit.

The Belgian presidency will see EU research commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn present the new research and innovation plan in September.

This will include several proposals such as a new funding system specifically for high-risk projects, as well as support mechanisms for eco-innovation programmes, funding for young innovation enterprises and promotion of financial incentives among industry partners.

The Belgian presidency is also trying to raise the profile of educational and cultural institutions in Belgium and the region, with 80 planned events highlighting the accomplishments and culture of the French Community between now and 31 December, when Belgium's presidency ends.